Poland vs Colombia preview: A risky business after both sides lose their opening fixture

Poland and Colombia, two of the favourites of Group H would have liked to avoid this fixture after losing their opening games. Poland lose against Senegal, and Colombia lose against Japan in their opening fixture of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. They would have loved to swap their opening fixture opponents before they face each other, but that’s how it is.

It will be first meeting between the both sides at international level. Kazan Arena will host the both teams knowing both are wounded lions. They’ll very eager for a rebound after the loss of opening fixture. A draw for both team will suffice is difficult to say knowing Senegal and Japan, both will be confident to face Colombia and Poland respectively in their third group fixture.

Poland and Colombia both need results for their survival in the tournament, but at the end of 90 minutes only one can be happy with a good result, otherwise a spoiler between them will leave them both on the brink of elimination.

Colombian striker Radamel Falcoa knows the importance of the match. He told FIFA.com, “I want to win and on Sunday we’ll do everything we can to get the three points. It will be like final.”

El Tigre is right. It’s a final for them. The result they got against Japan was unfortunate because they were down to 10 men within five minutes of the game started, but their next opponent Senegal after Poland will be as difficult as Poland.

Los Cafeteros can’t rely on future. They’ll have to live in present and their present is a game against Poland. The good news for them is their star player James Rodriguez will get a starting role after coming off the bench against Japan.

2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner must be eager to make an impact in this World Cup as well. And to do that, he must lead his country to the knockout stages. The risk is high but he needs to carry them through after early setback against Japan.

On the other hand, Poland didn’t play a great game against Senegal. They made individual errors and African nation punished them. They’ll be looking to bounce back as well. Their star man Robert Lewandowski didn’t shine in last match and they must be hoping that Bayern Munich’ star return with his scoring boot as soon as possible.

It’s Lewandowski who has brought them into World Cup finals and it’s his responsibility to carry them forward. Colombia won’t be an easy opponent as few he tasted during qualification phase scoring back to back hat-tricks, but they won’t be that tough The White and Reds will be facing the team going forward.

They have the capacity to become tournament dark horses. They have got the qualities in Lukasz Piszczek, Grzegorz Krychowiak, and Piotr Zielinski alongside Robert Lewandowski, they only need to turn up together.